What 1,191 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Explorer

I had a recall on my 2011 Ford explorer for toe Links and bushings. Since ever since this has been going on I have gone through 38 tires in the rear in the past two years alone no shop will fix my car because the camber is so out of whack I have to have the whole rear suspension redone again when it should have been fixed the first time with the recall link Ford spent 5 minutes going through my car and said that my car didn't qualify for any recall because my car is a front wheel drive and not an all-wheel drive so they did not do the recall now after bringing it to another shop I have the estimate of what it would cost to fix that needs to be done it is an emergency because when I hit a pothole I go in the ditch my friend and his smashed because I can't control my car my steering freezes while driving down the highway and this all has something to do with the rear suspension five Star automotive wrote down everything that needs to be replaced this is a hazard to be on the road, if I could afford another car I would have one I keep sinking money into this one, because of Link Ford and their mistake me and my car should not have to suffer for it or anyone else on the road because this is a hazard my car is going to kill someone if I would have had the recall replaced, I wouldn't have had to spend an additional $1,400 on parts and labor that never even got put in because they can't put them in until this is repaired I can't even get a front end alignment because of this the entire rear suspension is sagging to the ground and my tires tilt in about 42°. I have the printout from both Link Ford in mining and 5 star automotive in Superior WI because of the 22 times I've gone in the ditch due to my suspension and steering locking up I have a short in the ground wire somewhere that is now fried my ECU so when I put it in a $90 boot every time it lights on fire within 30 seconds I'm in closing that picture as well of the one I just put in little over an hour ago.

NHTSA ODI 11695632

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, the steering wheel seized and was not functioning properly. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. As a result, the driver lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a crash into a gate where it came to a stop. The driver-side and passenger-side air bags did not deploy. No warning light was illuminated. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.

NHTSA ODI 11643737

While driving down the highway, the power steering quit working totally. Causing me to go off the road into the ditch. There was a recall on the power steering gear that ford refuses to fix. They state it was fixed with a power steering module reset that did not.

NHTSA ODI 11634939

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed around a curb, the power steering had failed and the steering wheel had become difficult to steer. In addition, the contact had crashed under a bridge and the front passenger side tire had blown. The "power steering service now", "terrain management system fault", and "service advanced trac" warning lights were illuminated. During the crash, there was a 4-year-old seated in the rear of the seat. No injuries were sustained. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the residents where the tire was replaced. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to an unidentified recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11620207

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that occasionally after starting the vehicle, the power steering functionality would be inoperable. The contact stated that after the vehicle warmed up, the power steering functionality would return. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact stated that on one occasion while his wife was driving 60 MPH, the steering wheel lost power steering functionality and started drifting to the right unintendedly. The contact stated that the driver's side of the vehicle crashed into the guard rails. There was no injury sustained. There was no further information provided. The contact stated that the steering wheel regained power steering assist and his wife was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) and the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The dealer also informed the contact that he had to pay out-of-pocket for the repair fee because an unknown Customer Satisfaction Program had expired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ODI 11490570

Power steering & terrain assist fault would occasionally pop up and lock my steering wheel up. which I would just turn my car on & off to make go away.Only one day in mid turn it came on locked my steering wheel up was side swiped right into a pole. Not only was my car physically damaged but my 4 yr old daughter refuses to get in the car now which makes it extremely frustrating when we have to go places

NHTSA ODI 11471335

RECALL EXPIRED WAS ALSO TOLD WARRANTY FOR RECALL EXPIRED(WAS TOLD ON PHONE THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF WARRANTY WOULD COVER UNTIL THEY RUN TEST IT THEN WAS TOLD IT EXPIRED) IN FEB I LOSS POWER STEERING AND A CLUSTER OF LIGHTS CAME ON DASH. HAPPENED IN FEB BUT CALLED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT W FORD ON 3/1 BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE AVAILABLE OPENING UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK WE TOOK IT IN AND OF COURSE THEY SAY IT'S NOT COVERED. THIS IS BIG SAFETY ISSUES AND LOSS IT IN CURVE WHICH WAS SCARY. I DIDN'T PURCHASE CAR UNTIL 2017 SO NEVER HEARD OF RECALL AND SAME DEALER FIXED ANOTHER RECALL SO WHY DID THEY NOT FIX THIS RECALL AT THAT TIME OR MENTION THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11403300

RIGHT FRONT AXLE/CONTROL ARM FAILING (SNAPPED CLEANLY IN 2) 3 TIMES WITHIN 2 YEARS. FIRST TIME MAY HAVE BEEN SUBSEQUENT TO LOW SPEED FRONT END COLLISION. SECOND & THIRD TIMES DRIVING LESS THAN 25 MPH WITH NO COLLISION UNTIL AFTER HEARING THE SNAP & SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF STEERING. SECOND TIME FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP & TURNING LEFT ON A CITY STREET.THIRD TIME I'D BEEN DRIVING STRAIGHT APPROXIMATELY HALF A MILE ON A CITY STREET WITH SPEED NO GREATER THAN 25 MPH. LAST TWO REPLACEMENT/REPAIR DONE BY PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE CERTIFIED REPAIR FACILITY.

NHTSA ODI 11235001

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROADWAY, WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AND TIE ROD TO FRACTURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO BEECHMONT FORD (LOCATED AT 600 OHIO PIKE, CINCINNATI, OH 45245, (513) 752-6611) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11170327

LOST COMPLETE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. THE WHEEL WOULDN'T LET ME TURN IT AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11105059

POWER STEERING FAILURE. POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED ACCIDENT. I WAS QUEENS BOULEVARD BETWEEN 52ND AND 51ST STREET WHEN IT OCCURRED. MY VIDEO IS TOO LARGE TO DOWNLOAD.

NHTSA ODI 11056552

I STARTED THE CAR AND A NOTICE CAME UP: "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" WITHOUT WARNING. I PULLED OFF AND THE CAR DRAGGED TO THE RIGHT AND INTO THE CURB. I WASN'T INJURED. I HAD TO DRIVE IT HOME AS IS. I WAS PARALLEL PARKED BY A BUILDING. THE POWER STEERING OF THE FORD EXPLORER IS A FAULTY SYSTEM AND THEY'RE QUOTING ME OVER $2,000 TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI 10946871

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT AROUND 20 MPH WHEN THERE WERE CARS THAT SUDDENLY STOPPED. WHEN I WAS BRAKING I FELT AS IF THE STEERING WAS ALLOWING ME TO TURN AND IT HAPPENED SO FAST I FELT AS IF I LOST BRAKING POWER. THEN I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10633318

2011 FORD EXPLORER WAS JUST RETURNED TWO WEEKS AGO FOR NATIONAL RECALL ON ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. ON AUGUST 21ST AT 9:30 AM MY WIFE WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND FELT AN IMMEDIATE POWER LOSS ISSUE WITH THE BREAKS. SHE IMPACTED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER AROUND 15 MPH. AIR BAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. SHE DID NOTICED THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT FAILURE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AT TIME OF IMPACT. MY WIFE DID NOT FEEL THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE, NOR WERE THERE ANY SKID MARKS VISIBLE ON THE ROAD. MINOR FRONT END DAMAGE IS EVIDENT AND RADIATOR WAS LEAKING FLUID. INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT RECENT RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10627059

ON JUNE 16TH, 2014, I WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD AND 18 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR AND I LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND ENDED UP IN A DITCH. THERE WAS NO WAY TO CONTROL IT OR EVEN TURN THE WHEEL. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON JUNE 19TH, 2014 HOWEVER, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10604682

I WAS WITH MY FAMILY ON TRIP DRIVING 80 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT! THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED SO I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS. WE DID RUN OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO THE SHOULDER AND FISHED TAIL OUT OF CONTROL. THIS WAS FRIGHTENING FOR MY FAMILY. I WAS READY TO PASS SOME SLOWER VEHICLES WHEN THIS HAPPEN AND HAD TO MOVE QUICK BUT THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT. WE LOST CONTROL AND ENDED UP ON THE SHOULDER. I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME NOT WITHOUT SWEATING BY STRUGGLING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL FROM 3 HOURS AWAY. ONCE HOME, I LOOKED THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO FOUND THAT FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS!!!! I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT THE NEXT DAY AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HEARD OF THIS. HOPEFULLY NO ONE GETS HURT FOR FORD TO REALIZE THIS IS A DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLES! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10542610

HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, STEERING STOPS WORKING AND CAR HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON TO CORRECT PROBLEM. ON A TRIP WITH FAMILY ON CURVY ROAD TO LAKE TAHOE IT HAPPENED AND WE ALMOST COLLIDED WITH TRAFFIC. THE OTHER CARS MANUVERED AWAY FROM US WE HIT THE EMBANKMENT NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES BUT MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10535108

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUDDENLY CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE RADIATOR, FRONT BUMPER AND GRILL WERE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 10473047

I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AT APPROX 10-15 MPH - THE FAULT CODE APPEARED & ALARM SOUNDED-I HAD TO "MUSCLE" THE STEERING WHEEL TO COMPLETE MY TURN WHILE NEARLY GOING OVER THE CURB INTO A BUSINESS. MY FIRST REACTION WAS THAT THE ENGINE HAD STALLED BUT WHEN THE FAULT SHOWED AGAIN & ALARM SOUNDED THIS TIME IT WAS SHOWING THAT THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM HAD FAILED. AS IT WAS A 2-3 MILE STRAIGHT ROAD TO MY FORD DEALER & I DROVE THERE. AFTER ARRIVING AT THE DEALER I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, REPORTED WHAT HAPPENED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STARTED THE VEHICLE & THE POWER STEERING HAD RESET. THEY PUT THE VEHICLE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC UNIT & IT SHOWED A STEERING GEAR & STEERING GEAR MODULE/COMMUNICATION SENSOR(?) NEEDED REPLACEMENT. IT WAS ORDERED & INSTALLED ON 6/18/12 & HAS NOT FAILED SENSE THEN. I MENTIONED AN INJURY - IT WAS TO MY RIGHT SHOULDER AS I HAVE A TOTAL SHOULDER IMPLANT. I HURT IT "MUSCLING" THE STEERING WHEEL TO STRAIGHTENING THE VEHICLE OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10462897

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE AFORE NOTED VEHICLE, ON JUNE 7TH , 2012 ON OR ABOUT 5PM WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON ROUTE 63 AT MT WASHINGTON, ST. CROIX. SHE WAS TRAVELLING SOUTHWARD ON ROUTE 63 CROSSING THE SMALL BRIDGE ENTERING A SHARP RIGHT HAND TURN IN THE ROAD. SHE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN, INSTANTANEOUS, LOSS OF RESPONSE IN THE STEERING AND BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IN THE FEW SECONDS FOLLOWING, THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A WOODEN UTILITY POLE. *TT

NHTSA ODI 10462707